The Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care is a taught programme which may be taken on a part-time basis for a minimum of 18 months over two academic years and for a maximum of 36 months over four academic years from the date of first registration for the programme. The programme is offered to healthcare professionals working with palliative care, oncology and long term chronically ill patients.

Candidates must have the following:

• A primary degree at upper Second Class Honours or an equivalent qualification and experience in a relevant health care discipline to be approved by the College of Medicine and Health;
• Active registration or eligibility for registration with the appropriate professional healthcare registration body in Ireland;
• Minimum of two years' post qualification experience in healthcare, which should include a minimum of one year's employment in the provision of palliative care, oncology or long-term care;
• Applicants must currently be involved in the provision of palliative care, oncology or long term care and must continue to be so for the duration of the programme;
• Applicants who do not meet the normal academic requirements may also be considered;
• Candidates meeting the entry requirements will be shortlisted for interview and will have to satisfy an interview board;
• Acceptance of a candidate into the programme is subject to Garda/Police Clearance.

Applicants should indicate on their application form their reasons for studying this programme and will be asked to submit a sample of their own written work. At interview applicants will be required to discuss their initial ideas for entering the programme.

Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake of first year students (including repeats), this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

The programme comprises taught modules to the value of 55 credits and a clinical practicum to the value of 5 credits.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Year 1
EH6014 Research Methods in Palliative Care (5 credits)
IP6001 Philosophy, Development and Governance in Palliative Care (10 credits)
IP6002 Pain in Palliative Care (10 credits)
NU6090 Therapeutic Communication Skills for Palliative Practice (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Year 2
IP6003 Symptoms in Palliative Care (10 credits)
IP6004 End of Life Care, Grief and Bereavement (10 credits)
IP6005 Clinical Practicum in Palliative Care (5 credits)
IP6006 Psychosocial and Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care (5 credits)

Note: Alternatively, students may choose one other relevant 10-credit module, which is agreed with the Programme Director, from elsewhere in UCC and which may be substituted in lieu of one of the above 10 credit modules. This module must be equivalent in level and credit rating and is subject to the agreement of the programme Co-ordinator and approval of the College of Medicine and Health.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2017 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2016/2017.

Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Upon successful completion and passing of modules to the value of 30 credits, students may opt not to proceed with the programme and may be conferred with a Postgraduate Certificate in Palliative Care. A student who subsequently applies to continue to Postgraduate Diploma level must do so within 5 years from the date of successful completion of the Certificate Examinations.

Individual Modules
As part of UCC's commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), healthcare professionals may take a one-off module and be provided with a relevant transcript of marks.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply the philosophy and principles of palliative care in the provision of healthcare and demonstrate a holistic approach in caring for individuals and their families requiring palliative interventions.
• Assess own performance in the provision of knowledgeable, skilled, compassionate care.
• Provide consistent individualised person centered care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with lifethreatening illness.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate the physical, psychological sociological, spiritual and cultural care required by individual palliative patients and their families.
• Demonstrate clinical judgment and skills in the assessment and management of pain and other symptoms experienced by palliative care patients.
• Critically analyse palliative care research and apply findings from evidence based professional practice and research to clinical practice.
• Demonstrate expertise in communicating effectively with patients, families and the interdisciplinary team and affirm the value of communicating honestly with the patient and family.
• Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Practice as an innovative agent of change in a palliative healthcare setting and demonstrate leadership skills, the ability to analyse, reflect on practice and problem solve to improve the quality of care for the patient and their family.
• Value the importance of self-care, family and staff support in a palliative care environment.
• Evaluate the care provided to the dying patient and their family and value the healthcare professionals presence along the palliative journey, to the time of death and in the grief and bereavement process.
• Critically analyse the theoretical models of grief and bereavement and their application to clinical practice.
• Demonstrate recognition of own attitudes, feelings around dying and death, grief and bereavement.
• Demonstrate the ability to assess, develop, implement and evaluate an integrated care plan as part of the interdisciplinary care team.
• Value self-awareness as an integral part of palliative care.